(10-03-2010 12:32 PM)tanq_tonic Wrote:  Don't you find it just a *tad* deceptive that *no* other components of the overall budget are shown?

Of course the budget includes other things, tanq, and they appear in the graph, in the line labeled "Deficit without these factors." "These factors" are the five items shown (economic downturn, Bush-era tax cuts, war, stimulus, and TARP). Without these factors, the budget would be approximately balanced. I don't find that deceptive at all.

(10-03-2010 06:42 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Neither I nor anyone else will ever be able to explain it to you, not because it's not true but because you're simply not open minded enough to comprehend.

This is rather uncharitable toward me, Owl, especially on a Sunday. I don't see how you can accurately assess my degree of open mindedness.

I believe I should preserve these periodic insults in my signature. Let's see...